If you’re just transitioning from office-based to a work-from-home setup and you realized your home isn’t quite ready to become your new office just yet, it’s time to list your must-haves and get them ready. Choosing from a big or small monitor for pc, the keyboard and mouse, headsets, speakers, and other gadgets is important because these could make or break your work-from-home experience.
Here are 10 must-have gadgets for your home office:
- Logitech MX Master 3 – This wireless ergonomic mouse is a different kind of monster. If you’ve always felt uncomfortable using your basic mouse, it’s time to invest in a mouse that molds into your hands and assists you through your day’s task with ease. The best thing about this is you can connect it to up to 3 devices simultaneously, so it’s a flash to switch between your laptop and desktop whenever needed.
- Satechi Multi-port Adapter – For those who need to connect multiple devices to your main work computer, get this Satechi or any other branded multiport adapter. This tiny device will allow you to plug in external devices like microphones, headsets, speakers, and more without unnecessary cabling or complicated setups.
- Belkin Power Strip Surge Protector – Extension cords are the past. If you’re going to be relying on your devices for your work, you’ll need a modern, heavy-duty extension cord that plugs into any traditional plug, but accommodates USBs and cables, so you can connect your camera, phone, charging dock, and other gadgets in one. Plus, this has surge protection, so even power glitches won’t easily destroy your valued devices.
- Thunderbolt 3 dock – If you need both a desktop and laptop for your day-to-day work, you’ll need this super-efficient dock. This is where you’ll plug your peripherals, such as keyboard, mouse, drawing tablet, microphone, external storage, and so on, then plug it into your main computer. Then if you need to access your laptop, just get the dock’s main cable and plug it into the laptop to be able to use all peripherals connected to the Thunderbolt dock. Such a timesaver, huh?
- External hard drive – Gone are the days when external hard drives used to weigh a ton. Today, external hard drives can be smaller than your smartphone. If the cloud isn’t an option for you, your next best bet is to save your work files on an external hard drive, so you can easily transport them and transfer them on your next visit to the office. Get from big-name brands like Western Digital, Seagate, SanDisk, or LaCie for better warranties.
- Lumbar support chair – The biggest thing you’ll notice when you transition from office-based to work-from-home is that your seating option at home isn’t really comfortable. This is because companies invest in boosting employee productivity and studies have shown that an employee that works comfortably also works more efficiently. Check out the ergonomic chairs from Steelcase , Humanscale, or Eurotech. If you have budget, Herman Miller chairs blend ergonomics and comfort with luxury.
- Ring Light with Tripod – Are you going to be hosting seminars and taking a lot of work-related meetings from home? Improve your lighting significantly by investing in a ring light with a tripod, so you could easily connect your phone and be camera-ready once you need to go on a Zoom or Google Meet session.
- Netgear Mobile Hotspot – Working from home doesn’t excuse you from being unprepared whenever internet outages occur beyond your control. Be prepared by having a backup internet connection 24/7.
- Wi-Fi Extender – Found out the space you decided to turn into your work-from-home office has little or no Wi-Fi signal? Don’t panic. In most cases, you don’t need to get a new internet connection. All you have to do is invest in a Wi-Fi booster/extender, which will “extend” the Wi-Fi signals from one room to the next. Choose from TP-Link or Linksys.
- Noise-canceling Headphones – Noise from your kids, neighbors, your beloved pets, or even just the environment can be distracting. Make sure these do not affect your work. Buy a pair of headphones that will cancel these external noises out. Sony, Bose, Shure, Apple and Sennheiser all have good noise-canceling headset options in different price points.
- Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini – These smart speakers come from two rival brands, but they are both awesome “home assistants” that could make your work-from-home more efficient. The number of tasks they could help, from giving you answers to “Google” questions or asking the time, weather, etc., can be great time-savers to anyone multitasking.
- Wireless charging station – You’ll find a plethora of options, but go for a wireless version with up to 4 or 5 devices at a time. This way, you can charge your phone, tablet, stylus pen, and other portable devices in one go, and they’re always at arm’s reach when you need them.
These gadgets will make your work-from-home experience a LOT better. Not everyone needs each of the items on this list, but they’re definitely a must-have you should consider saving up for.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
